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A
Anonymous
November 21, 2012
Question

Error: Failed to initialize database.

  • November 21, 2012
  • 7 replies
  • 6618 views

RH10, WebHelp Pro, Robohelp Server 9

First, please do not move this question to the Server forum because plainly part of the problem is happening before the output is published.

After generating output and choosing FIle > View> Primay Layout, every thing looks OK except that if I click the Search button,  I get the Search input box and below it, the message:

Error: Failed to initialize database.

If I enter any valid search term, the only response is:

null

We publish our output to two identically configured WebPro servers. After publishing the above output, the result is that on one server, the published output works fine, including searches. On the other server, clicking the Search button produces a completely blank navigation pane.

These results are infinitely repeatable despite numerous server restarts, deletions of SSL folders, CPD files, all the usual suspects.

SO the questions I have are:

  1. What  database is failing to initialize?
  2. What would account for two different published output results on two identically configured servers in the same environment (Windows 7, IE 9) ?
  3. What do I need to do to get a response from Adobe technical support to my requests for assistance??
This topic has been closed for replies.

7 replies

A
Community Expert
AmebrCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 26, 2021

Was it previously working with your current windows version, and it's just recently stopped working? If it was working, perhaps your IT department removed MSXML4 (I think they can set it up so it happens with windows updates). If that's the case you may be able to get them to reinstall it (or provide further justification for upgrading everything (security being a hot topic lately...)

Peter Grainge
Community Expert
Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 24, 2021

Sorry you have to upgrade the whole TCS and it is now subscription based. Do you need all the component parts? Could you work with just RoboHelp and FrameMaker on the production side? If you do upgrade, you will also need to upgrade Rh Server.

 

BTW. I'm not saying there is no fix, rather I don't know of anything other than what is here. I haven't reread the whole thread but you could try creating a new project and rebuilding. However, RoboHelp has moved on a lot since 11 so maybe it's time to move on anyway.

 

You can read about the new version here. RoboHelp Tour Introduction (grainge.org). It's very different and there is a learning curve but once you get your mind around the changes, it is a whole lot easier to use.

________________________________________________________
See www.grainge.org for free Authoring and RoboHelp Information

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TechWriterKat2
TechWriterKat2
Inspiring
April 23, 2021

Thanks Peter. Do you happen to know if I can upgrade just RoboHelp and Frameker in TCS?

Peter Grainge
Community Expert
Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 23, 2021

I can't offer any more than is here already but you are running a version of RoboHelp on an operating system that it is not designed for.

 

Versions of Windows and MS Word compatible with RoboHelp (adobe.com)

________________________________________________________
See www.grainge.org for free Authoring and RoboHelp Information

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TechWriterKat2
TechWriterKat2
Inspiring
April 23, 2021

I know this is an old post, but I am having this problem too, and NOTHING seems to have helped. I am using RoboHelp11, (As part of Adober Communication Suite 12)  all updates/patches applied, I have the same symptoms described below with Search not working in WEB Help. I sometimes get "failed to inialize database" and/or "javascript (0), and null when I attempt a search. I too am missing whxdata/whfts_xml.js.  Search works just fine in CHM files, just not WEBHelp.

 

I am using Windows10, so the MSXML/ KB973688 and other MSXML 3/4 KB patches listed in another post in this forum do not apply (based on information to download them, windows 10 is not listed as a supported operating system--so I'm kind of afraid to try it).

I have cleared the RH cache, created a new, small project, searched my computer for these files, uninstalled and reinstalled -- I have spent HOURS on the web searching for answers, and nothing works for me.  Can anybody help?

A
Anonymous
November 22, 2012

Update:

We have found, almost by accident, that publishing the project into a previously unused Context on the RH9 server seems to resolve (for now anyway) the empty Search pane and the associated failure message cited in the title of this discussion.

It does not resolve the two other issues that seem to be associated (but which could be separate issues). These issues are:

  • Missing js packages in the whxdata folder output
  • Non-functioning TOC synchronization with the topic pane
Peter Grainge
Community Expert
Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 26, 2012

Have you looked at Willam's suggestion?

See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

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A
Anonymous
November 26, 2012

Hi Peter,

Yes, but have not acted on it as yet. Expect to hear something from TCS support today -- they requested our server logs and we sent them through. I'd like to hear their comments before reinstalling everything.

The things that baffle me, and seem completely inconsistant:

  • We are missing the js script packages in SSL/whxdata when we generate this project as WebHelp or WebHelp Pro, and yet it seems to run properly (with respect to Search) when we publish it to one RH Server but not on the other

  • If I create a test project, RH generates all the required js packages in SSL/whxdata, but we can't get it to do that for our "real" project.

Willam van Weelden
Willam van Weelden
Inspiring
November 21, 2012

Hi,

For regular WebHelp this means that the resource xml files (_xml.js in RH10) could not be loaded. Check your whxdata folder. Do you see the package_x_xml.js files?

What happens when you generate WebHelp? Does the search work then?

Greet,

Willam

RoboColum_n_
RoboColum_n_
Legend
November 21, 2012

For the sake of completeness this file also exists with WebHelp Pro output in the location mentioned by Willam. Obviously just look in your WebHelp Pro output folder instead

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